World War II Honoree

Robert G. Cole

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

San Antonio, Texas

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: LIEUTENANT COLONEL. HE GRADUATED FROM WEST POINT, THE UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY WITH THE CLASS OF 1939. SERVED AS COMMANDER OF THE 3RD BATTALION, 502ND PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, 101ST AIRBORNE ‘SCREAMING EAGLES’ DIVISION. HE WAS A PARATROOPER WHO JUMPED INTO FRANCE IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS ON D-DAY, JUNE 6, 1944, THE INVASION OF GERMANY’S FORTRESS EUROPE. PARTICIPATED IN THE INVASION OF HOLLAND, CODE NAME: ‘OPERATION MARKET GARDEN’, JUMPING INTO THE AREA OF ARNHEM. KILLED IN ACTION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1944 BY AN ENEMY SNIPER DURING THE BATTLE FOR BEST AND IS BURIED IN THE NETHERLANDS AMERICAN CEMETERY, MARGRATEN, NETHERLANDS. DECORATIONS AND CITATIONS: CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR, PURPLE HEART AND THE FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM. THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR WAS AWARDED TO COLONEL COLE POSTHUMOUSLY FOR GALLANTRY AND INTREPIDITY AT THE RISK OF HIS LIFE ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY ON JUNE 11, 1944 WHILE ENGAGED IN COMBAT AGAINST THE GERMAN ARMED FORCES NEAR CARENTAN, FRANCE, BATTLE OF NORMANDY. THE PURPLE HEART FOR HIS SUPREME SACRIFICE IN DEFENSE OF HIS COUNTRY. FROM THE BATTLEFIELDS OF NORMANDY, HOLLAND, GERMANY AND STOPPING AT THE EAGLE’S NEST IN BERCHTESGADEN, HIS DIVISION WAS AWARDED A PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION WITH 1 OAK LEAF CLUSTER, FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM, BELGIAN CROIX DE GUERRE, THE BELGIUM FOURRAGERE AND THE ORANGE LANYARD OF THE ROYAL NETHERLANDS ARMY FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION AGAINST THE GERMAN ARMED FORCES.